Sound translating device



Nov. 12, 1935. c, GUEDQN Q 2,020,605

' sbpmn TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1934 Patented Nov. 1935 UNITED STATES 2,030,605 SOUND TRANSLATING DEVICE Emile C. Guedon, Audubon, N. 1., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1934, Serial No. 728,696

10 Claims.

This invention relates to sound translating devices of the type employing a stylus for cooperation with a phonograph record, and moreparticularly to means for facilitating the insertion 5 of the stylus in the stylus holding member of the device.

The usual type of pick-up device or sound box is provided with a downwardly extending socket within which the stylus is inserted and clamped .0 in place. Considerable inconvenience and annoyance is often experienced in attempting to insert the stylus in the socket by reason of the fact that it is practically impossible to look under the sound reproducing device to see the socket, and one is obliged to ascertain the exact location thereof by sense of touch. It is to obviate this inconvenience and to provide means for and a method of facilitating the insertion of a stylus in a pick-up or the like device which is the primary object of my invention.

In accordance with my invention, I provide in the pick-up casing a guiding element leading from the visible periphery thereof to the practically invisible socket thereof. Thus, it is merely necessary to engage the blunt end of the stylus with the guiding element and move it therealong toward-the socket, whereupon it may be easily inserted therein and promptly clamped in place.

The novel features that I consider characterisl0 tic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from a description of several embodiments thereof when taken in connection with the accom-,.

panyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sound translating device showing one form of my invention; Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the pick-up l casing shown in Figure 1; 4

Figure 3 is a sectional view on'the line III-HI of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a modified form of my invention; l5- Figure 5 is a front elevation of a pick-up casing showing still another form of my invention; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detailed perspective view of the socket for the stylus.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, there 50 is shown, in Figure 1, a tone arm or supporting arm I which carries a sound translating device 2 provided with the usual socket 3 within which a stylus l is receivable and in which it is operatively held by any suitable means, such as a 55 clamping screw 5, for example. When operatively disposed on a sound record, the edge 6 of the casing of the sound translating device is clearly visible, but the socket 3 thereof, being below eyelevel and practically entirely within the casing 2, is invisible to the operator. 8

To facilitate insertion of the stylus in the socket without the necessity of unduly raising the pickup or feeling for the socket, I provide a depression or groove 1 in the bottom face of the casing 2. The groove 1 extends from the visible edge 10 6 of the casing directly to the socket 3 which, as clearly shown in Figure 3, has the forward portion thereof, or the portion adjacent the groove 1, broken away to provide a portion 3a: substantially flush with the bottom face of the casing and a rear stopping portion 3b which extends below the bottom face of the casing through an opening therein and acts as a stop against which the stylus may abut. when it is desired to insert the stylus into the socket 3, the blunt end thereof is engaged in the depression 1 and it is moved along the depression toward the socket until it abuts against the extension 3b thereof, whereupon it may be easily slipped into the socket and secured therein by the screw 5. Obviously, in 26 place of but a single groove 1, a series of grooves I, 8, 9, III, N may be provided in the casing 2 extending radially outwardly from the socket 3 to the several peripheral edges of the bottom face of the casing. 30 In Figure 4, I have shown, as a modification of my invention, a pick-up device in which the bottom face I! of the casing 2 is provided with an inwardly extending, substantially conical depression l3 located substantially centrally of the 38' face I! and substantially concentric with the socket 3. Actually, the depression I3 is frustoconical and the socket 3 communicates with the smaller base thereof. The depression {3 may,

of course, be the frustum of a pyramid or any 40 other suitable geometrical figure, and any frustum-shaped depression is satisfactory. If desired, the depression l3 may extend to the edge 8 of the casing, or a groove similar to the groove I may extend from the edge 6 thereto.

The modification shown in Figure 5 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, but instead of providing the bottomface I! with a depression to constitute the guide groove for the stylus, the guide groove may be formed by a pair of adjacent parallel ridges ll extending from the edge 6 to the socket I, the slight space between the ridges ll providing the stylus guiding path. .As in the case of the modification of Figures 1 to 3, a plurallty of sets of ridges may be provided on the face l2, each set extending radially outwardly from the socket 3 to the edges of the face l2.

Although I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modifications thereof are possible. I therefore intend that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sound translating device including a casing, a stylus receiving member, and means forming an integral part of said casing providing a stylus guiding path leading to said member.

2. In a sound translating device, a casing having a visible portion when in operative position relative to a sound record, a stylus receiving member normally invisible when said device is in said operative position, and means on said casing extending from said visible casing portion to said stylus receiving member and providing a stylus guiding path leading" to said depression therein extending from an edge there of to said member and constituting a path along which a stylus may be guided from said casing edge to said member.

4. In a sound translating device, the combination of a casing and a stylus receiving member associated therewith, said casing having apair of parallel ridges thereon extending from an edge thereof to said member, and said ridges being spaced apart slightly whereby to constitute a path along which a stylus may be guided from said casing edge to said member.

5. In a sound translating device, the combination of a casing having a substantially conical depression in one face thereof, and a stylus receiving member associated with said casing, said member communicating with said depression.

6. In a sound translating device, the combi-- nation of a casing having a frustum-shaped depression in one face thereof, and a stylus receiving member associated with said casing, said member communicatingwith the smaller base of said frustum.

7. In a sound translating device, the combination of a casing having an inwardly extending frustum-shaped depression in one face thereof, and a stylus receiving member associated with said casing, said member communicating with the smaller base of said frustum.

8. In a sound translating device, a casing, a stylus receiving member adjacent one face of said casing and located substantially centrally thereof, and means providing a plurality of stylus guiding paths extending radially out wardly from said member to the edges of said casing face.

9. In a sound translating device, a casing having an opening in one face thereof, a stylus receiving socket extending through said opening, and means on said face providing a stylus guiding path from one edge of said face to said socket, said socket beingbroken away below said face at the side thereof adjacent said stylus guiding means and said broken away portion being substantially flush with said casing face whereby a stylus guided along said path toward said socket may be easily inserted therein upon engagement with the portion thereof extending below said face.

10. In a sound translating device, the combination of a casing having a frustum-shaped depression in one face thereof, and a stylus receiving member associated with said casing, said member communicating and having its stylus receiving end substantially flush with the smaller face of said frustum.

EMILE C. GU'EDON. 40 

